Persepsi terhadap pertanian dikalangan beliatani dan keperluan pendidikan pertanian

Golongan beliatani yang produktif, kreatif, imaginatif serta mempunyai daya saing tinggi amat diharapkan di dalam komuniti tani negara Malaysia. Objektif umum kajian ini ialah untuk mengetahui status terkini mengenai pandangan, keperluan dan persediaan belia untuk menceburkan diri di dalam sektor pertanian. Secara khususnya kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti persepsi belia-belia terhadap pertanian dan mengenalpasti keperluan dan kesediaan para belia terhadap program pendidikan pertanian yang dianjurkan oleh kerajaan mahupun swasta. Di dalam kajian ini juga, pengkaji beranggapan bahawa kategori, peringkat belia yang berbeza dan pembabitan secara terus atau tidak di dalam pertanian akan member jawapan dan pendapat yang berbeza yang mana ini akan memberi satu hasil penyelidikan atau panduan yang baik mengenai belia dan program pendidikan pertanian. Seramai 92.2 peratus responden berpendapat bahawa pertanian adalah pekerjaan yang menjanjikan keuntungan yang lumayan jika diusahakan dengan betul. Manakala 81.6 peratus responden pula berpendapat bahawa ia merupakan sektor yang berpotensi untuk dimajukan. Seramai 95.7 peratus responden pula menyatakan persetujuan bahawa perlunya pengajaran ilmu pengetahuan mengenai pertanian dan manfaatnya semasa di peringkat kecil lagi diberikan bagi menarik minat serta mendorong mereka menganggap bahawa pertanian itu penting

Unleashing youth potentials in developing the agricultural sector

The participation of youth in agriculture is imperative given the fact that the hope and aspiration of agriculture, and the nation for that matter, rest on their shoulders. This successful and persistent youth in agriculture would pave their paths to be nucleus farmers. Youth involvement in trying out or getting involved in agriculture very much depends on their perception on agriculture itself. This research seeks to identify the perception of youth on agriculture and in particular it seeks to: 1) study the respondents’ profiles among the youth link to agriculture; 2) to study their perception on agriculture; and 3) to identify the agriculture education programme provided for the youth. The positive view on agriculture that is suggested by the research indicates that the youth do not totally deny or place a negative image on agriculture. Various agriculture education programmes have been and are currently organized to develop agriculture education among youth either by the government or the private agencies. In general, the young farmers are unaware of the programmes organized by the government or the private agencies. This shows ineffective communication for the beneficiary (youth) and the organizer of the programme. Effective agriculture education actually depends on how far and significant the commitment given by every party. Multiple efforts are needed to ensure the effectiveness of an education programme

Perkembangan projek pengkelompokan pesawah di kawasan Lembaga Kemajuan Pertanian Muda (MADA)

Di Malaysia, kelompok tani banyak ditubuhkan di kawasan jelapang padi seperti di kawasan MADA dan di kawasan pertanian sayur dan buah-buahan di serata tempat di seluruh negara. Penubuhan organisasi seperti ini merupakan inisiatif pihak kerajaan untuk memastikan kemajuan dan pembangunan masyarakat petani. Tujuan penubuhannya adalah untuk memastikan operasi ladang dapat dilakukan dengan lebih cekap dan efisien memandangkan petani di bawah kelompok tani bekerjasama menjalankan operasi ladang secara berjadual, teratur dan bersistematik untuk mencapai tahap kecekapan ekonomi pengurusan ladang mereka. Kajian dijalankan untuk melihat perkembangan terkini projek kelompok tani ini dan juga perubahan dari sudut amalan teknikal dan pengurusan ladang yang mungkin mempengaruhi peningkatan produktiviti petani. Kajian mendapati seramai 47.6% responden faham akan faedah penyertaan di dalam kelompok tani. Manakala 41.4% responden menyertainya apabila melihat kejayaan kawan-kawan yang telah menyertai kelompok tani. Seramai 97.9% responden bersetuju bahawa ada perbezaan pendapatan dalam hasil padi sebelum dan selepas menyertai kelompok tani. Manakala dari segi kewangan pula, 77.2% responden bersetuju bahawa ada sedikit peningkatan kepada mereka sebelum dan selepas menyertai kelompok tani. Penyertaan di dalam kelompok tani seharusnya meningkatkan amalan pengurusan seseorang petani itu. Secara keseluruhannya, kajian mendapati bahawa proses pengkelompokan petani masih mengekalkan tiga bentuk pengurusan kelompok tani iaitu Kelompok, Projek Separa Perladangan (PSP) dan Projek Sawah Secara Perladangan (PSSP). Walau bagaimanapun, bilangan penubuhan Kelompok baru telah dikurangkan dan ditumpukan kepada penubuhan PSP dan penambahan kepada pembentukan PSSP baru. Sistem pengurusan yang digunakan oleh setiap jenis kelompok tani masih sama dengan kebanyakan Kelompok yang diuruskan oleh petani sendiri, PSP oleh AJK/PPK dan PSSP pula banyak diuruskan oleh PPK/MADA dan dibantu oleh AJK yang dibentuk

The participation of Malaysian fresh fruit and vegetable farmers in contract farming

Contract Farming (CF) is seen as a means of fostering smallholder participation in new high-value product markets and improving quality standards, thus increasing and providing stability to smallholder incomes. This study aims to identify the factors related to CF as a new marketing practice among selected vegetable and fruit suppliers. The specific objectives are to identify factors influencing vegetable and fruit suppliers to engage in CF, and to suggest policy initiatives that promote CF sustainability. The factor analysis identified five factors that lead farmers in Peninsular Malaysia to participate in contract farming of fresh fruits and vegetables (FFV) in the context of the new supply chain namely market assurance, access to marketing information and technology, transfer of technology to improve farming practices, access to inputs and indirect benefit. The findings show that farmers are interested in CF because it helps them gain better knowledge in cultivation practices, get access to marketing information, market their produce and utilise farm resources. At the same time, CF or contract arrangements can be a valuable source of knowledge that can be employed to enhance their productivity

Training requirements of agricultural extension officers using Borich needs assessment model

This study is based on the opinions of selected Iraqi extension workers, regarding the type and amount of training they need, given their experience in the field. The Borich Needs Assessment Model was used for measuring training needs. The data were collected through questionnaires given to 300 respondents (agricultural workers) from January 15, 2016 to March 20, 2016. The results show that crop-planting courses have the greatest benefit. The greatest training need is skill and knowledge of teaching methods, while a moderately needed skill is the use of computer and information and communication technologies (ICT); management skills are the least needed training

The role of extension in activity-based adaptation strategies towards climate impact among oil palm smallholders in Malaysia: a systematic review

Adaptation is a key strategy that can alleviate the harshness of climate change impacts on farming. Adaptation strategies are probably not going to be viable without an understanding of the nature of the impact.Climate change causes higher precipitation fluctuation and less reliable precipitation due to extended drought periods and extreme precipitation that will adversely affect oil palm production. In Malaysia, the common effects of drought stress are: (i) increase of abortion; (ii) failed or rotten bunch; (iii) fluctuated and low productivity; and (iv) long inflorescences (8-9 months). In addition, excessive rainfall usually reduces road quality, inhibit harvest activity, and flooding. High precipitation and humidity also cause severe destruction to fresh fruit bunches. There are several activity-based adaptation strategies dealing with climate change, i.e. planting material tolerant to extreme rainfall, applying soil and water conservation, reducing water evaporation by weed/cover crop management and mulching, and several agronomic practices to reduce evapotranspiration before the dry season. Implementing. In order to achieve this, extension services play an important role in educating farmers by encouraging them to learn, adopt new technologies and spread them to other farmers. To ensure the success of the extension program is through understanding their roles as, Technology and information managers, Capacity developers. Facilitators, implementers of policies and programs. Finally, recommends policy implication for an effective agricultural extension system in Malaysia

Evalution of women economic development program (WEDA) in developing women entrepreneurship in Sariket Division, Sarawak.

Women entrepreneurs in Malaysia have increased significantly since independence and a handful of them have even succeeded in establishing and managing huge businesses in the country. In line with the government indigenous women entrepreneurship empowerment objectives, the Women Economic Development (WEDA) programme under the Department of Agriculture, Sarikei Division of Sarawak was established to strengthen the entrepreneurial potential of local women. In this study, 30 female participants from the WEDA programme were involved. The CIPP (Context, Input, Process and Product) Model Evaluation was used to assess the programme's effectiveness towards women participants in entrepreneurship, especially those involved in agriculture-based activities. The majority of the respondents was Ibans with the age group ranged from 36 to 45 years. The target component one (Women Entrepreneurs Development) managed to achieve only 35% of the target as measured by the changes in total sales and net profit after participating in the WEDA programme, while target component two (Family Income Diversification) managed to achieve 15% of the set target. The results, however, suggest that participants' drive for success is not raised to a greater extent and there is a lack of effort due to the high cost of operation, weather conditions and marketing problems. However, the participants felt the positive changes especially in business knowledge, skill acquisition and entrepreneurial operations

Identify the knowledge level of rural leaders towards paddy farming technologies in Muda Agriculture Development Authority (MADA-Malaysia)

Rural leaders are the people who are able in an informal manner that the influence relatively frequently on the behavior and attitudes of others towards what is desirable. However, the study was conducted to determine the knowledge perception levels of rural leaders of paddy farming technologies in muda agriculture development authority (MADA). The sample size of this study is (260). The random Sampling technique was used in this study. This research also was done by interview approaches to gain the knowledge perception levels of rural leaders of paddy farming technologies. Using SPSS, descriptive and inferential analyses was performed to fulfill the objectives determined. Based on the results gained, the knowledge level of paddy farming technologies among respondents is moderate. Further analysis done have proved that there is a significant relationship between some social, demographic factors and level of knowledge of respondents on paddy farming technologies, it is recommended that rural community access and exposure to agricultural technologies must be strengthened, so that our future generations will have good knowledge on paddy farming technologies to have the best paddy

Intention Level of Farmers to Use Information Communication Technologies for Agricultural Risk Management in Malaysia

Climate changes are changing intentions of farmers to tackle climate variations in various ways. Information and Communication Technologies are proving to assist farmers to manage agricultural risk timely and with fewer efforts. Intention of farmers to use ICTs in the context of agricultural risk management is important to understand. Therefore, the present study was designed to examine intention of the farmers from the context of Malaysia. The field survey of three selected states was conducted in which 350 farmers were chosen through multi stage cluster sampling technique. The Likert scale items measuring 1 as strongly disagree to 5 as strongly agree were used in the research instrument to assess intention of the respondents. The findings revealed that the farmers showed positive intention to use ICTs for agricultural risk management from the future lens. The overall level of intention was also high. However, internet speed, small screen display and battery issues could halt intention of the farmers to harness potential of digital technologies as reported by the farmers. Thus, the study recommends that agricultural extension service providers are required to introduce various digital skill development programs for the farmers exclusively resource poor and less digital familiar farmers to reduce the risk in the agricultural sector stem from climate changes